MAME

For those not up to date in the computer world technology is ever growing with new possibilities. Anyone interested in computer games may know that MAME is a Multiple Arcade Machine Emulator. MAME takes arcade games like Donkey Kong, Tekken, and others and converts them into online downloads for a computer player. The individual playing the games gets the same screen, same technology, and same abilities as the original machine had. In other words if you are playing Donkey Kong the original version, you would see the technology from when it was first released instead of a technological update.

MAME was created in 1997 with their .1 release. Nicola Salmoria was behind the project at MAME. Nicola works to emulate various arcade machines and games, offering them in several different versions. For instance Donkey Kong can be emulated to play like the original arcade machine or be programmed for a Playstation version.

The idea behind MAME was to keep gaming history alive. In other words, some of the games from our past are being removed from arcades and dispensed of. The technology has improved so much that some individuals no longer find the older versions important. There are a number of players who still love to go back in time to certain games. The MAME project allows this to happen. This way the games are neither lost nor forgotten.

In 2005 a new version of MAME was released. The new release offers over 3000 games and over 5000 clones. It is interesting to learn how the MAME program works. First of all one has to have a computer for the download. Windows, Macintosh, and even Unix operating systems will support MAME. MAME is a CPU emulator. This means it will look like the original CPU from the game. It is also an input emulator to offer the correction buttons, joystick, and other PC devices in order to play the game successfully.

MAME realizes that some individuals may want to hack the games, but they don’t wish for this to happen. The company’s aim is for preservation of games, and not to allow emulators to be hacked. Hacking would slow down the processes they have worked hard to create. Therefore they offer registration and instructions on how to use the program. In this way they hope to provide the technology, but not to allow hackers through.

For MAME to work there are specific computer requirements. Most of the older games can be supported by the 2 gigahertz PC; however the older games require a more advanced system. The processor has to be able to keep up with the games technology. For 3D games and other more advanced graphic technology a gaming computer is warranted. By having a more up to date computer that is designed for gaming it will eliminate issues that could appear.

MAME as an emulator certainly offers a wide range of games for the most avid players. The project allows for collectors or serious players to revisit some of their childhood.